Managing email content in an activity stream

ABSTRACT

Managing email content in an activity stream includes receiving a selection of a number of criteria that indicate content to be presented in an activity stream, retrieving email content based on the number of criteria, and displaying the email content in an activity stream by referencing email data related to the metadata.

RELATED APPLICATION

The present specification is a continuation, and claims the priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 120, of previous U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/036,534, entitled “Managing Email content in an Activity Stream,”filed Jul. 16, 2018 which is a continuation of Ser. No. 14/028,354,entitled “Managing Email content in an Activity Stream,” filed Sep. 16,2013, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/023,039, entitled “Managing Email content in an Activity Stream,”filed Sep. 10, 2013, which application is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to managing email content, and morespecifically, to managing email content in an activity stream.

Activity streams provide a forum for users to receive notificationsabout particular content. These activity streams juxtapose related dataand allow the user to opt-in to content of interest. For example, asocial media activity stream allows a user to receive status updates forindividuals in the user's network. Activity streams may be used in aprofessional environment to receive notifications about business-relatedcontent, such as project status, colleague status updates, posteddocuments, and other business related content, and also to take actionagainst these notifications and systems.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Managing email content in an activity stream includes receiving aselection of a number of criteria that indicate email content to bepresented in an activity stream, retrieving email content based on thenumber of criteria, and sending metadata relating to the email contentto the activity stream to be presented.

Displaying email content in an activity stream includes receivingmetadata related to email content retrieved based on a number ofselected criteria, receiving an instruction to display the emailcontent, and displaying the email content in an activity stream byreferencing email data related to the metadata.

Managing email content in an activity stream includes receiving aselection of a number of criteria that indicate email content to bepresented in an activity stream, retrieving email content based on thenumber of criteria, an action taken against other email content, orcombinations thereof, and displaying the email content in an activitystream by referencing email data related to the metadata.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate various examples of the principlesdescribed herein and are a part of the specification. The examples donot limit the scope of the claims.

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a system for managing email content in anactivity stream, according to one example of principles describedherein.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of channels, according to one example of principlesdescribed herein.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method for sending email content to anactivity stream, according to one example of principles describedherein.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of another method for sending email content to anactivity stream, according to one example of principles describedherein.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method for displaying email content in anactivity stream, according to one example of principles describedherein.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method for displaying email content anactivity stream, according to one example of principles describedherein.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example of a management device, according tothe principles described herein.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example of a management device, according tothe principles described herein.

Throughout the drawings, identical reference numbers designate similar,but not necessarily identical, elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present specification describes a system and a method for managingemail content in an activity stream such that selected email content isdisplayed in an organized and efficient manner.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, aspects of the presentspecification may be embodied as a system, method, or computer programproduct. Accordingly, aspects of the present specification may take theform of hardware or a combination of hardware and software. Furthermore,aspects of the present specification may take the form of a computerprogram product embodied in a number of computer readable mediums havingcomputer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of computer readable medium(s) may be utilized. Acomputer readable storage medium may be, for example, but not limitedto, an electronic, magnetic, optical electromagnetic, infrared, orsemiconductor system, apparatus, or device or any suitable combinationof the foregoing. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable mediums would include the following: an electricalconnection having a number of wires, a portable computer diskette, ahard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROP or Flash memory), anoptical fiber, a portable compact disk read-only memory (CD-ROM), anoptical storage device, a magnetic storage device, or any suitablecombination of the foregoing. In the context of this document, acomputer readable storage medium may be any tangible medium that cancontain, or store a program for use by or in connection with anyinstruction execution system, apparatus, or device such as, for example,a processor.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wire line, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentspecification may be written in an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, or C++, among others. However, the computerprogram code for carrying out operations of the present systems andmethods may also be written in procedural programming languages, suchas, for example, the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer,partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partlyon the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely onthe remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remotecomputer may be connected to the user's computer through a local areanetwork (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may bemade to an external computer (for example, thought the internet using aninternet service provider).

Flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus, andcomputer program products are disclosed. Each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor or other programmable data processingapparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, whichexecute via a processor of the computer or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, implement the functions/acts specified in theflowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

In one example, these computer program instructions may be stored in acomputer-readable memory that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the functions/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram blocks or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperations to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implement process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/orblock diagram blocks or blocks.

As noted above, activity streams may be used in business organizationsto organize data relating to particular content of interest. By usingactivity streams and an opt-in feature, a user can select, filter, anddistinguish content of interest from other content that is unrelated tothe content of interest. Accordingly, activity streams allow a user morecontrol over received electronic content.

However, current electronic content management systems may not addressexisting inefficiencies. For example, a user may receive and transmitinformation via many information channels. The increasing number ofinformation channels increases the complexity of the overall informationtransfer infrastructure. The increased complexity may overwhelm usersand may contribute to lost information.

Additionally, current methods of electronic content management may notefficiently integrate email content into an activity stream. Forexample, merely pushing all the email data into a user's activity streammay overwhelm the activity stream, and accordingly hinder the purpose ofthe activity stream to streamline the presentation of pertinentinformation. Accordingly, a user is overloaded with email content in thetraditional email inbox and the activity stream as well and may beunable to process the email content and extract pertinent information.

Thus, the present specification describes systems and methods formanaging email content in an activity stream. A management device mayintegrate email content into an activity stream. More specifically, themanagement device may receive a selection of a number of criteria. Thecriteria may be used to determine which email messages are to bepresented in the activity stream. Additionally, the management devicemay receive a selection of email content via an action taken against anemail message. Actions taken against an email message may include“flagging” an email message or replying to an email message. In anotherexample, a selection of email content to display in an activity streammay be based on the sender of the email message. For example, a user'smanager, or individuals in the user's network may trigger a selection ofemail content to be displayed in the activity stream. Email messagesthat satisfy these criteria, or that have had an action taken againstthem, may be retrieved and metadata relating to the email messages maybe sent to, and be displayed in, the activity stream.

Integrating email content into an activity stream as described hereinmay be beneficial in that it provides an integration of email contentand an activity stream in a fashion that emphasizes content of interestwhile distinguishing the content of interest from other unrelatedcontent. Accordingly, a user may have more control over email contentand a simpler route to take action based on the email content. Moredetail about the system and method will be described below.

As used in the present specification and in the appended claims, anactivity stream may be an interface that presents information selectedby a user. For example, an activity stream may post notifications orupdates related to individuals selected by a user, topics selected by auser, or other content of interest. Additionally, email content selectedby the user may be displayed, or otherwise presented, in the activitystream.

Additionally, as used in the present specification and in the appendedclaims, email content may include a number of email messages. Forexample, email content may be a single email message, multiple emailmessages, an email thread, multiple email threads, or combinationsthereof. Email content may also include other threaded discussions andother collections of email messages. More specifically, email contentmay be email messages that are selected to be displayed in an activitystream.

As used in the present specification and in the appended claims, thephrase “a number of” or similar language may be any positive numberincluding 1 to infinity; zero not being a number, but the absence of anumber.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerousspecific details are set forth in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding of the present systems and methods. It will be apparent,however, to one skilled in the art that the present apparatus, systems,and methods may be practiced without these specific details. Referencein the specification to “an example” or similar language means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith that example is included as described, but may not be included inother examples.

Referring now to the figures, FIG. 1 is a diagram of an example of asystem (100) for managing email content in an activity stream, accordingto one example of principles described herein. By way of introduction,via user devices (101), users may communicate with other users via anumber of channels (102). A management device (103) may manage thechannels (102) and integrate the data shared across the channels (102).

The system (100) may include a number of user devices (101). In oneexample, a user uses a user device (101) to access a channel (102). Achannel (102) may be a forum that facilitates many users communicatingwith one another. One example of a channel (102) is an email networkthat allows users to share information with one another via emailmessages. Another example of a channel (102) is an activity stream whichpresents notifications and updates to content selected by a user. Forexample, an activity stream may post status updates to individuals in auser's network. Other examples of channels (102) include a telephonenetwork, an instant messaging network, and a mobile texting network,among other communication networks.

As depicted in FIG. 1, users may communicate with one another viamultiple channels (102). For example, a first user may receive an emailmessage from a second user via an email network. The first user may alsoreceive an update to a status of the second user via an activity stream.A channel (102) may include a number of engines that allow users totransmit and receive information from other users. Additionally, a usermay receive and transmit information via multiple instances of a channel(102). For example, a user may have multiple email accounts throughwhich they share information.

The users of the channels (102) may communicate with one another via anumber of user devices (101). Examples of user devices (101) includedesktop computers, laptop computers, smartphones, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), and tablets, among other electronic devices. In otherwords, a user device (101) may be any electronic device that allows auser to communicate with another electronic device.

A management device (103) may manage email content in an activitystream. As described above, multiple channels (102) may lead to lostinformation or information overload. Accordingly, the management device(103) may integrate email content into an activity stream. Morespecifically, the management device (103) may facilitate the display ofemail content in the activity stream. For example, the management device(103) may receive an indication of a number of criteria that may be usedto determine email content to be presented in the activity stream.Additionally, the management device (103) may receive an indication thatan email is to be presented in the activity stream via an action takenagainst the email content. The management device (103) may retrieve theindicated email content, and send metadata relating to the content to anactivity stream to display the email content in the activity stream. Insome examples, the management device (103) may include a number ofmodules to carry out the functionalities described herein. For example,the management device (103) may include an email manager that managesemail data in an email network. For example, the email manager mayperform a number of operations described below in connection with FIGS.2-6. Similarly, the management device (103) may include an activitystream manager that manages the activity stream. For example, theactivity stream manager may present a user interface to receive aselection of a number of criteria. The activity stream manager and theemail manager may be part of a single device or may be separate anddistinct computing devices that includes the management device (103).

Using a management device (103) to manage email content in an activitystream may be beneficial in that it distinguishes email content selectedby a user, from unrelated email content, and displays the selected emailcontent in a forum where the email content can be easily identified andaccessed by a user. In other words, using the systems and methodsdisclosed herein, a user may identify particular email content ofinterest, and have that email content displayed to them in an organizedforum while unrelated email content is separated and presented inanother forum.

Moreover, displaying a subset of email messages, and hiding unrelatedemail messages may allow a user to customize an email infrastructure andeasily locate and respond to pertinent email messages via the activitystream. In other words, displaying particular email content in anactivity stream may ensure that pertinent email messages are not lost inthe corpus of less pertinent email messages. In summary, the systems andmethods described herein provide an efficient and simple manner todistinguish, and process, user-selected email content.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of channels, according to one example of principlesdescribed herein. More specifically, FIG. 2 depicts an email network(202 a) and an activity stream (202 b) according to one example ofprinciples described herein. The email network (202 a) and the activitystream (202 b) may be examples of the channels (FIG. 1, 102) describedin connection with FIG. 1. As described above, an email network (202 a)may allow users to communicate with one another via email messages. Forexample, a first user may send a first email message to a second uservia the email network (202 a). A second user may reply to the emailmessage, or forward the email message onto another user, using the emailnetwork (202 a).

The email network (202 a) may include email content data (204). Emailcontent data (204) may be any data that relates to the email contentshared via the email network (202 a). As described above, email contentmay refer to an individual email message or multiple email messages. Forexample, email content may include an email thread that includes anumber of email messages. The email network (202 a) may be managed by anemail manager operated by the management device (FIG. 1, 103).

The activity stream (202 b) may post updates and notifications relatingto content selected by a user. For example, the activity stream (202 b)may post status updates of individuals in a user's network. In anotherexample, the activity stream (202 b) may include posted documentsrelating to topics selected by the user.

The activity stream (202 b) may include email content metadata (205).This metadata may be used to display the email content in the activitystream (202 b). The activity stream (202 b) may include a set ofapplication programming interfaces (APIs) to push email content into anactivity stream interface. These APIs may be used to push email messagesfrom the email network (202 a) into the activity stream (202 b). Forexample, via the management device (FIG. 1, 103), email content metadata(205) may be passed from the email network (202 a) to the activitystream (202 b). Via the management device (FIG. 1, 103), metadatarelating to the email content may be sent to the activity stream (202b), while the actual email content data (204) may be retained in theemail network (202 a). In other words, the email content data (204) maybe external to the activity stream (202 b). Additionally, when there areupdates to the email content data (204), i.e., forwards of and/orreplies to email messages, the metadata relating to those forwardsand/or replies is pulled from the email network (202 a) and implementedby the activity stream (202 b).

In some examples, the activity stream (202 b) may include data that isnot external, but rather internal, to the activity stream (202 b). Forexample, services data (206) may be included in the activity stream (202b). Services data (206) may include any data used to implement a numberof services. Examples of services include social networking services,online communities, wikis, blogs, and file sharing, among otherservices. Other content data (207) may also be internal to the activitystream (202 b). Other content data (207) may include any data topresent, implement or otherwise process other content. The other contentdata (207) may be data relating to other channels (FIG. 1, 102). Forexample, the activity stream (202 b) may include other content data(207) that may be used to display content from an instant messagingchannel. The activity stream (202 b) may be managed by an activitystream manager operated by the management device (FIG. 1, 103).

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method (300) for sending email content to anactivity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b), according to one example of principlesdescribed herein. The method (300) may be performed by the managementdevice (FIG. 1, 103). Accordingly, all, or a portion, of the method(300) may be performed by the activity stream manager, the emailmanager, another manager of the management device (FIG. 1, 103), orcombinations thereof. The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may receive(block 301) a selection of a number of criteria. The criteria mayindicate email content to be presented in an activity stream (FIG. 2,202 b). For example, a user may select a number of criteria. Emailcontent that satisfies the criteria may be presented in the activitystream (FIG. 2, 202 b). The criteria may reflect an interest a user hasin particular content. For example, a user may intend to follow emailmessages from an individual in the user's department. Accordingly, themanagement device (FIG. 1, 103) may receive (block 301) the selection ofthe individual to be followed as a criteria for displaying email contentin the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b).

In another example, the user may desire to follow email messages thatrelate to a particular topic or theme. Accordingly, the managementdevice (FIG. 1, 103) may receive (block 301) the selection of the topicas a criteria for displaying email content in the activity stream (FIG.2, 202 b). Other examples of criteria that may be used to indicate emailcontent to display in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) include tags,groups, and communities, among other selection criteria.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may retrieve (block 302) emailcontent based on the number of criteria. For example, if a particularemail message, or an email thread, satisfies the received criteria, themanagement device (FIG. 1, 103) may identify and retrieve (block 302)that email content. In some examples, retrieving email content may beperformed when the number of recipients of the email content is below athreshold number. For example, a user may select a manager as acriterion by which email content is retrieved and displayed. In thisexample, the user may not wish to display on his/her activity stream(FIG. 2, 202 b), email content from the manager addressed to the entirecompany, for example a message including a reminder about an upcomingbuilding renovation. However, the user may wish to display on his/heractivity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) email content from the manager to aparticular working group of which the user is a member, for example aproject note. Accordingly, in addition to the criteria mentioned above,the management device (FIG. 1, 103) may retrieve (block 302) emailcontent when the number of recipients is less than a threshold number.In some examples the threshold number may be one. In this example, emailcontent directly, and solely, addressed to the user from the manager maybe retrieved.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may send (block 303) metadatarelating to the email content to the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) tobe presented. The metadata may include information that allows themanagement device (FIG. 1, 103) to identify the email content to bedisplayed in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). In some examples, theemail content data (FIG. 2, 204) may remain on the email network (FIG.2, 202 a) while the email content metadata (FIG. 2, 205) may be passedto the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). As will be described below, theemail content may be displayed via the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b).The method (300) may be beneficial in that it may provide an opt-infeature that allows the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) to presentselected email content and allow interaction with the email contentwithout interacting with the email network (FIG. 2, 202 a).Additionally, using the opt-in functionality presented via the selectionof criteria, a user may customize the presentation of email content.More particularly, a user can display priority email content in theactivity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) and ensure that such priority emailcontent is separated from unrelated email content and is not lost in acluttered email inbox.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of another method (400) for sending email contentto an activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b), according to one example ofprinciples described herein. The method (400) may be performed by themanagement device (FIG. 1, 103). Accordingly, all, or a portion, of themethod (400) may be performed by the activity stream manager, the emailmanager, another manager of the management device (FIG. 1, 103), orcombinations thereof. The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may receive(block 401) an indication of a number of criteria that indicate emailcontent to be presented in an activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). This maybe performed as described in connection with FIG. 3. The number ofcriteria may be received via an email manager. In another example, thenumber of criteria may be received via an activity stream manager. Inyet another example, the number of criteria may be received via anothermanager, a third-party manager for example.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may retrieve (block 402) the emailcontent based on the number of criteria. This may be performed asdescribed in connection with FIG. 3. In some examples, retrieving (block402) email content based on the number of criteria may includeretrieving subsequent email content that is based on the email contentthat satisfies the number of criteria. For example, the managementdevice (FIG. 1, 103) may retrieve email messages that are forwards of,and/or replies to, email messages that satisfy the number of criteria.The email content may be retrieved via an email manager. In anotherexample, the email content may be received via an activity streammanager. In yet another example, the number of criteria may be receivedvia another manager, a third-party manager for example.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may retrieve (block 403) other emailcontent based on an action taken against the other email content. Asused herein, this other email content may be email content that is notretrieved based on the satisfaction of the number of criteria asdescribed in connection with FIG. 3. For example, a user may desire todisplay in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) email content that wasnot retrieved based on the satisfaction of the number of criteria. Inthis example, the user may take an action against this other emailcontent to direct the management device (FIG. 1, 103) to display theother email content in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). For example,a user may “flag” or select an icon to indicate other email content thatmay be retrieved and displayed in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b).In another example, a user may reply to the other email content. Such areply may be an action taken against the other email content to indicatethat this other email content may be retrieved and displayed in theactivity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b).

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may send (block 404) metadatarelating to the email content to the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). Insome examples, this may be performed as described in connection withFIG. 3. In some examples, the management device (FIG. 1, 103) may sendmetadata relating to the other email content, i.e., the email contentretrieved based on an action taken against the email content, to theactivity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b).

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may send (block 405) metadatarelating to subsequent email content related to the retrieved emailcontent to the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). For example, an emailthread may have been selected to be displayed in the activity stream(FIG. 2, 202 b). Accordingly, subsequent email messages that are part ofthe email thread may be received at the email network (FIG. 2, 202 a).For example, the email network (FIG. 2, 202 a) may receive forwards of,or replies to, the email content. Accordingly, the management device(FIG. 1, 103) may retrieve the subsequent email content and send (block405) metadata relating to the subsequent email content to the activitystream (FIG. 2, 202 b).

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may prevent (block 406) the displayof the email content in an email inbox. For example, the metadata mayhave been sent to the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) and the managementdevice (FIG. 1, 103) may suppress the email content in the email network(FIG. 2, 202 a). As described above, the email content data (FIG. 2,204) may still be present in the email network (FIG. 2, 202 a), but thedisplay of the email content may be prevented. Preventing the display ofthe email content in the email network (FIG. 2, 202 a) may be beneficialin that it reduces the number of email messages in an email inbox, andreduces the duplication of information as the email content is alreadydisplayed in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method (500) for displaying email content inan activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b), according to one example ofprinciples described herein. The method (500) may be performed by themanagement device (FIG. 1, 103). More specifically, the method (500), orportions thereof, may be performed by the activity stream manager, theemail manager, another manager, or combinations thereof. The activitystream manager may receive (block 501) metadata relating to emailcontent retrieved based on a number of selected criteria. As describedabove, email content that satisfy a number of user-selected criteria maybe retrieved by the activity stream manager. The email content metadata(FIG. 2, 205) related to the retrieved email content may be received bythe activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b).

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may receive (block 502) aninstruction to display the email content. For example, a user may selectsummary text or another icon to direct the management device (FIG. 1,103) to display the email content. Accordingly, the activity streammanager may display (block 503) the email content. More specifically,the management device (FIG. 1, 103) may display (block 503) the emailcontent in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). In some examples, themanagement device (FIG. 1, 103) may display the email content by usingthe metadata to reference, link, or otherwise retrieve the email contentfrom the email network (FIG. 2, 202 a).

In some examples, the email content may be exclusively displayed in theactivity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). For example, an email manager mayprevent the email content from being displayed on the email network(FIG. 2, 202 a). In other examples, other channels (FIG. 1, 102) mayalso be prevented from displaying the email content. Exclusivelydisplaying the email content in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) maybe beneficial in that it simplifies the presentation of emailinformation, thus reducing the likelihood of lost information,information overload, and information duplication.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of another method (600) for displaying emailcontent in an activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b), according to one exampleof principles described herein. The method (600) may be performed by themanagement device (FIG. 1, 103). Accordingly, all, or a portion, of themethod (600) may be performed by the activity stream manager, the emailmanager, another manager of the management device (FIG. 1, 103), orcombinations thereof. The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may receive(block 601) metadata related to email content retrieved based on anumber of selected criteria. In some examples, this may be performed asdescribed in connection with FIG. 5.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may receive (block 602) metadatarelating to other email content retrieved based on an action takenagainst the other email content. As described above, email content thatdoes not satisfy a number of user-selected criteria may be retrieved bythe activity stream manager when a user takes an action, such asselecting an icon, or responding to the other email content.Accordingly, email content metadata (FIG. 2, 205) for the other emailcontent may be received by the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b).Additionally, the management device (FIG. 1, 103) may receive metadatarelating to subsequent email messages related to the email content, theother email content, or combinations thereof.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may receive (block 603) aninstruction to display the email content. In some examples, this may beperformed as described in connection with FIG. 5.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may display (block 604) the emailcontent in an activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). In some examples, thismay be performed as described in connection with FIG. 5.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may display (block 605) subsequentemail content. For example, the management device (FIG. 1, 103) maydisplay (block 605), via the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b), subsequentemail content that include replies to and/or forwards of the emailcontent.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may display (block 606) othercontent related to the email content. As described above, the activitystream (FIG. 2, 202 b) may also include service data (FIG. 2, 206) andother content data (FIG. 2, 207). Accordingly, the management device(FIG. 1, 103) may display (block 606) other content relating to theservice data (FIG. 2, 206) and other content data (FIG. 2, 207). Forexample, the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) may display icons thatdirect a user to blogs, wikis, forums, or other resources. In someexamples, the other content may be related to the email content. Forexample, a user may indicate email content relating to the topic of“human resources” to be displayed in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202b). Accordingly, blogs, wikis, forums, or other resources related to“human resources” may be displayed on the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202b).

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may also prevent (block 607) thedisplay of unrelated email content. As used herein unrelated emailcontent may refer to email messages that 1) do not satisfy the selectedcriteria, 2) have not had an action taken against them, and 3) are notsubsequent email messages of retrieved email content. For example, emailcontent that does not satisfy the selected criteria, was not retrievedbased on an action taken against email content, nor that is subsequentemail content may not be presented in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202b). Preventing the display of unrelated email content may be beneficialin that it simplifies, and de-clutters the email content displayed inthe activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b), thus enhancing the effect of theactivity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) to provide a simple and efficientdisplay of material, including email content, selected by a user.

The management device (FIG. 1, 103) may allow (block 608) the generationof subsequent email content. More specifically, the management device(FIG. 1, 103) may allow a user, via the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b)to reply to, or forward, email messages included in the retrieved emailcontent. Doing so may be beneficial in that it provides a singlelocation where a user can both access, and respond to email messages,rather than viewing email content in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202b), and returning to the email network (FIG. 2, 202 a) to interact withthe email content.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of an example of a management device (703) accordingto the principles described herein. The management device (703) may bean example of the management device (FIG. 1, 103) described inconnection with FIG. 1. The management device (703) may include aselection engine (708), a retrieve engine (709), and a display engine(710). In this example, the management device (703) may also include ametadata engine (711), an instruction engine (712), a generation engine(713) and a services engine (714). The engines (708, 709, 710, 711, 712,713, 714) refer to a combination of hardware and program instructions toperform a designated function. Each of the engines (708, 709, 710, 711,712, 713, 714) may include a processor to execute the designatedfunction of the engine. As described above, the management device (FIG.1, 103) may include an email manager, an activity stream manager,another manager, or combinations thereof. Accordingly, any combinationof any number of the engines (708, 709, 710, 711, 712, 713, 714) may bepart of the email manager, the activity stream manager, or anothermanager.

The selection engine (708) may receive a selection of a number ofcriteria that indicate email content to be presented in an activitystream (FIG. 2, 202 b). The number of criteria may include individuals,topics, tags, groups, and communities, or combinations thereof.

The retrieve engine (709) may retrieve email content. Specifically, theretrieve engine (709) may retrieve email content based on the number ofcriteria. Email content may be a number of email messages, a number ofemail threads, or combinations thereof. In some examples, the retrieveengine (709) may retrieve other email content based on an action takenagainst the email content. For example, the retrieve engine (709) mayretrieve email content when an icon is selected, or when the emailcontent is replied to. In some examples, the retrieve engine (709) mayretrieve email content when the number of recipients of the emailcontent is less than a threshold number.

The display engine (710) may display email content in an activity stream(FIG. 2, 202 b). Displaying email content may include displayingsubsequent email content in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). In someexamples, the display engine (710) exclusively displays the emailcontent in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). In other words, thedisplay engine (710) may prevent the display of the email content in anemail inbox. The display engine (710) may display other content relatedto the email content in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). Forexample, the display engine (710) may display service interfaces in theactivity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). The display engine (710) may preventthe display of unrelated email content in the activity stream (FIG. 2,202 b).

The metadata engine (711) may send and receive metadata relating toemail content that was retrieved based on a number of selected criteria.The metadata engine (711) may also send and receive metadata relating toother email content that was retrieved based on an action being takenagainst the other email content. The metadata engine (711) may also sendand receive metadata relating to subsequent email content that arereplies to, or forwards of the retrieved email content, the retrievedother email content, or combinations thereof.

The generation engine (713) may allow generation of subsequent emailcontent based on the displayed email content. For example, thegeneration engine (713) may allow the generation of subsequent emailcontent from the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b) without interactingwith an email network (FIG. 2, 202 a). The services engine (714) mayprovide services related to the email content.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an example of a management device (803),according to the principles described herein. The management device(803) may be an example of the management device (FIG. 1, 103) describedin connection with FIG. 1. In this example, the management device (803)may include processing resources (815) that are in communication withmemory resources (816). Processing resources (815) may include at leastone processor and other resources used to process programmedinstructions. The memory resources (816) represent generally any memorycapable of storing data such as programmed instructions or datastructures used by the management device (803). The programmedinstructions shown stored in the memory resources (816) may include aselection receiver (817), an email content retriever (818), an emailcontent displayer (819), a metadata sender (820), a metadata receiver(821), a display preventer (822), an instruction receiver (823), anemail content generator (824), and a service provider (825).

The memory resources (816) include a computer readable storage mediumthat contains computer readable program code to cause tasks to beexecuted by the processing resources (815). The computer readablestorage medium may be tangible and/or physical storage medium. Thecomputer readable storage medium may be any appropriate storage mediumthat is not a transmission storage medium. A non-exhaustive list ofcomputer readable storage medium types includes non-volatile memory,volatile memory, random access memory, write only memory, flash memory,electrically erasable program read only memory, or types of memory, orcombinations thereof.

The selection receiver (817) represents programmed instructions that,when executed, cause the processing resources (815) to receive aselection of a number of criteria to indicate email content to bepresented in an activity stream. The email content retriever (818)represents programmed instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessing resources (815) to retrieve email content based on 1) thenumber of criteria, 2) an action taken against the email content. Theemail content displayer (819) represents programmed instructions that,when executed, cause the processing resources (815) to display the emailcontent, other email content, other content, or combinations thereof inan activity stream. The metadata sender (820) represents programmedinstructions that, when executed, cause the processing resources (815)to send metadata relating to the email content, other email content,subsequent email content, or combinations thereof to the activity streamto be presented. The metadata receiver (821) represents programmedinstructions that, when executed, cause the processing resources (815)to receive metadata relating to the email content, other email content,subsequent email content, or combinations thereof. The display preventer(822) represents programmed instructions that, when executed, cause theprocessing resources (815) to prevent the display of email content inthe email inbox and prevent the display of unrelated email content inthe activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). The instruction receiver (823)represents receive an instruction to display the email content. Theemail content generator (824) represents programmed instructions that,when executed, cause the processing resources (815) to allow generationof subsequent email content in the activity stream (FIG. 2, 202 b). Theservice provider (825) represents programmed instructions that, whenexecuted, cause the processing resources (815) to provide servicesrelated to the email content.

Further, the memory resources (816) may be part of an installationpackage. In response to installing the installation package, theprogrammed instructions of the memory resources (816) may be downloadedfrom the installation package's source, such as a portable medium, aserver, a remote network location, another location, or combinationsthereof. Portable memory media that are compatible with the principlesdescribed herein include DVDs, CDs, flash memory, portable disks,magnetic disks, optical disks, other forms of portable memory, orcombinations thereof. In other examples, the program instructions arealready installed. Here, the memory resources can include integratedmemory such as a hard drive, a solid state hard drive, or the like.

In some examples, the processing resources (815) and the memoryresources (816) are located within the same physical component, such asa server, or a network component. The memory resources (816) may be partof the physical component's main memory, caches, registers, non-volatilememory, or elsewhere in the physical component's memory hierarchy.Alternatively, the memory resources (816) may be in communication withthe processing resources (815) over a network. Further, the datastructures, such as the libraries, may be accessed from a remotelocation over a network connection while the programmed instructions arelocated locally. Thus, the management device (803) may be implemented ona user device, on a server, on a collection of servers, or combinationsthereof.

The management device (803) of FIG. 8 may be part of a general purposecomputer. However, in alternative examples, the management device (803)is part of an application specific integrated circuit.

The preceding description has been presented to illustrate and describeexamples of the principles described. This description is not intendedto be exhaustive or to limit these principles to any precise formdisclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light ofthe above teaching.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operations of possible implementationsof systems, methods, and computer program products. In this regard, eachblock in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module,segment, or portion of code, which has a number of executableinstructions for implementing the specific logical function(s). Itshould also be noted that, in some alternative implementations, thefunctions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in thefigures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, beexecuted substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes beexecuted in the reverse order, depending upon the functionalityinvolved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagramsand/or flowchart illustration and combination of blocks in the blockdiagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by specialpurpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions oracts, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularexamples, and is not intended to be limiting. As used herein, thesingular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the pluralforms as well, unless the context clearly indicated otherwise. It willbe further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising”when used in the specification, specify the presence of stated features,integers, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not precludethe presence or addition of a number of other features, integers,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of managing content with an electronicdevice, comprising: receiving a user selection of a number of criteriato distinguish content from a first channel to be presented in a secondchannel from content from the first channel to be presented in the firstchannel, wherein: the first channel is a separate channel from thesecond channel; and the first channel is a different type ofcommunication network than the second channel; retrieving, based onsatisfaction of the number of criteria, the content from the firstchannel to be presented in the second channel; displaying the content tobe presented in the second channel in the second channel by referencingmetadata relating to the content, which metadata is passed to the secondchannel; and preventing the content to be presented in the secondchannel from being presented in the first channel, wherein the contentremains in the first channel and is not passed to the second channel. 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the content, while displayed in thesecond channel, is retained in the first channel.
 3. The method of claim1, wherein the first channel is an email network.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the second channel is an activity stream.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the first channel and second channelare selected from the group consisting of a telephone network, aninstant messaging network, and a mobile texting network.
 6. The methodof claim 1, further comprising retrieving additional content from thefirst channel that relates to the content from the first channel to bepresented in the second channel.
 7. The method of claim 1, furthercomprising generating, via a user interface, a prompt for selection ofthe number of criteria.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprisingpreventing the content from being displayed in other channels.
 9. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the content is exclusively displayed in thesecond channel.
 10. A method for managing email content in an activitystream with an electronic device, comprising: receiving a user selectionof content of interest; separating, based on the user selection ofcontent of interest, email content that relates to the content ofinterest from unrelated email content; retrieving, when a number ofrecipients of email content is less than a threshold amount, the emailcontent that relates to the content of interest; displaying the emailcontent that relates to the content of interest in the activity streamby referencing metadata relating to the email content, which metadata ispassed to the activity stream, wherein the activity stream presentsnotifications and updates to content selected by a user; preventing theemail content that relates to the content of interest from beingpresented in the email network, wherein: the email content is retainedin the email network; and the email network is a separate channel fromthe activity stream and allows users to communicate via email messages;retrieving additional content related to a topic of the email content tobe displayed in the activity stream; and displaying the additionalcontent in the activity stream.
 11. The method of claim 10, whereinreceiving a user selection of content of interest comprises receiving auser selection of at least one of a user of interest and a topic ofinterest.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the email messages relatedto the content of interest are separated based on a sender of the emailmessages.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the user selection ofcontent of interest is received at an email network manager.
 14. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the user selection of content of interest isreceived at an activity stream manager.
 15. The method of claim 10,further comprising pulling updates relating to the email content to bepresented in the activity stream into the activity stream.
 16. A methodfor managing email content in an activity stream with an electronicdevice, comprising: receiving a user selection of a number of criteriato distinguish email content to be presented in an activity stream fromunrelated email content to be displayed in an email network, wherein:the email network allows users to communicate via email messages; andthe activity stream is a separate channel from the email network andpresents notifications and updates to content selected by a user;retrieving, when a number of recipients of email content is less than athreshold amount and based on satisfaction of the number of criteria theemail content to be presented in the activity stream; retrievingadditional content related to a topic of the email content to bepresented in the activity stream; and retrieving subsequent emailcontent that is at least one of a forward of or reply to the emailcontent that satisfies the number of criteria; displaying the emailcontent to be presented in the activity stream in the activity stream byreferencing metadata relating to the email content, which metadata ispassed to the activity stream; displaying in the activity stream, theadditional content; preventing the email content to be presented in theactivity stream from being displayed in the email network, wherein theemail content is retained in the email network; and allowing generationof at least one of a forward of or a reply to the email content in theactivity stream.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the selectionengine is to receive user selection of other email content to bepresented in the activity stream via an action taken against the otheremail content.
 18. The method of claim 16, further comprising sendingmetadata relating to the email content to the activity stream while theemail content remains on the email network.
 19. The method of claim 16,wherein receiving user selection of a number of criteria comprisesreceiving user selection of content of interest.
 20. The method of claim16, wherein email content is pushed from the email network into theactivity stream.